Crispy Cacio e Pepe Air Fryer Gnocchi
These cacio e pepe air fryer gnocchi bites are crispy on the outside and pillowy on the inside. Tossed with Pecorino Romano (or Parmesan) and lots of black pepper, they are ridiculously easy to make and come together in under 20 minutes. No actual frying required! Serve them with roasted tomato sauce or my homemade lemony pesto and watch them disappear.
Ingredients
- 1 pound shelf stable potato gnocchi (450 grams)
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil more for greasing (30 milliliters)
- 1/4 cup freshly-grated Pecorino Romano cheese (20 grams)
- Freshly-cracked black pepper to taste
- 1-2 pinches Kosher salt I use Morton
Equipment
- Air fryer
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 390°F (200°C). Grease the basket with olive oil or cooking spray.
- Combine the gnocchi, olive oil, and Pecorino Romano in a medium mixing bowl. Season with lots of black pepper and 1-2 pinches of Kosher salt, to taste. Use a big spoon to toss everything together until the gnocchi is well-coated. Make sure to scrape up any cheese that sinks to the bottom of the bowl!
- Spread the gnocchi in an even layer in the prepared air fryer basket. (You may need to work in batches if you have a small air fryer.) Air fry the gnocchi at 390°F (200°C) for 12-15 minutes. If you want gnocchi that is crispy on the outside, but a bit pillowy on the inside, go with 12 minutes. For extra crispy gnocchi, go with 14-15 minutes.
- Serve the gnocchi right away with marinara sauce, pesto, or even Alfredo sauce. Enjoy!
Notes
Pecorino Romano is the traditional cheese in cacio e pepe. But Parmesan will also work if you can't find Pecorino!
Don't go overboard with the salt, because the Pecorino is already pretty salty. Start with 1 pinch and add more after frying if you need to.
I have noticed that different brands of gnocchi cook differently, so keep a close eye on them. For example, Trader Joe's takes a little longer to cook than De Cecco. Start cooking them for 12 minutes and add 3-4 more minutes if needed!
Shake the air fryer basket halfway through cooking to make sure every bit gets crispy. If you have an oven-style air fryer, you can toss the pasta with a spatula instead.
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 152kcal, Carbohydrates: 23.3g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 4.6g, Saturated Fat: 0.6g, Cholesterol: 18.2mg, Sodium: 248mg, Potassium: 150mg, Fiber: 1.2g, Sugar: 0.4g
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